Intermittent gas-lift pump



Nov. 4, 1930. M.. T. ARCHE 1,780,808

l INTERMITTENT GAS LIFT PUMP Filed April 25, 1928 Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITEDY STATES PATENT OFFICE HEBTON T. ARCHER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO THE NATIONAL SUPPLY COMPANY ,'OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO INTEBMITTENT GAS-LIFT PUMP Application med April 25, 1928.v Serial No. 272,731. A

5 the liquid to become levitated or to weigh less per cubic foot, whereby the liquid rises and overflows at the top of the well. More particularly this invention relates to apparatus of the type just described wherein the operat- 10 ing fluid, such as gas or air, can nottransmit its pressure to the liquid-producing strata which is cut off by one or more valves from such liquid as is being so levitated or jetted. -Apparatus of the type last described has one or more valves which cut oli' the jetting fluid while the liquid'controlling valve or valves are open, and o en to admit the jetting fluid when the liqui controlling valve or valves are closed. Means are provided which automatically operate the valves in opposite directions as certain differential pressure are reversed and reach predetermined values. x

In some instances it has been proposed to control the operation of the valves by Bourdon or similar resiliant tubes. In the resent instance, it is proposed to contro the valves automatically by the use of metallic bellows, made preferably from drawn seamless materiaL I do not limit this invention to any particular type of bellows. The bellows maybe assisted or not, as the conditions may re uire, by a helical or other spring.

n the apparatus described in my application Serial No. 266,414, led March 31, 1928, the bellows is influenced by the differential of pressure existing between the upper and lower columns of uid being pumped; but in the present application, the bellows is influenced by the dierential of pressure between the actuating fluid and the vupper column of iiuid being pumped.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figfl is a central vertical section of that part of a gas lift pump which pertains to my invention parts of the complete apparatus being brolien away at each end. Fig. 2 is in part an elevation and in part a central vertical section, showing a modification of Fig. 1.

On the drawing 10 designates a well casing or pipe with-in which is suspended my pump? ing string, comprising the well-tubin or pipe 11 and other elements connected to t e lower end thereof.

To the lower end of the tubin 11 I connect the ported block 12 by means o the coupling 13. This block has screwed thereon the upper end of the tube 14 whose upper end is spaced from the lower end of the coupling 13.

The lower end of the tube 14 is threaded to the upper end of the ported valve block 15, on.whose lower end is screwed the coupling 16 which is s aced from the lower end of the tube i 14. A tu e 17 is screwed on the lower end of the exterior wall of the coupling 16 and projects downwardly through a packer 18 caring externally against the inner wall of the casing 10. A ported, valve block 19 is screwed into the lower end of the interior wall of the coupling 16 and is spaced from the block 15. A tube 20 is screwed on the lower end of thev exterior wall of the block 19 and extends downwardly and has its lower end closed by the screw-plug 21; The upper end of the pipe 20 is spaced from the coupling 16. The 'block 12 has pendent within the tube 14 the exteriorly threaded boss 22 to which the pendent tube 23 is secured. The lower end of tlls tube is open and is spaced from the block A bellows 24 preferably of resilient metal has its upper end provided with a nipple which is screwed into the passage 25 in the block 12, this passage connecting with radial ports 26 which lead from the center of the block radially outwardly between the adjacent ends of the coupling 13 and the tube 14 to the chamber 27between the casing 10 and that part of the pump string which is above the packer 18. The block 12 has the passages v 28 connecting the chamber 29 enclosed by the tube 14, to the interior .of the tubing 11.

The space between the tube 23 and the bellows may be regarded as apart of the chamber 29, the tube 23 being merely a guide and.

to receive Huid from the well.

connected together by the stem 34, and to the bottom of thebellows by the stem 35. The spring 36 surrounds the stem 35 and rests on the tpp of the block and exerts upward Eres are on the bottom of the bellows. The loc 15 has the passages 37 which connect the chamber 29 to the chamber 38 between the blocks 15 and 19. The block 19 has the chamber 39'from Awhich passages lead to the interior of the tube 17, between which and the tube 20 there is the annular passage 41 open at the bottom The upper and lower walls of the block 19 have upwarlly tapered seats for the reciprocating valves 42 and 43 connected to ether by the stem 44, and to the bottom o the valve 33 by the stem 45. The block 19 has the passages' 46 connecting the chamber 38 to the -sand trap or chamber 47 enclosed by the tube l20. A common 'spring toggle 48 serves tov move the bellows and valve system quickly in either direction afterthe toggle has passed its dead center.

Y The pump string having been lowered vdown the casing 10`and into the well liquid,

assumed to be oil, a suicient distance to efthe arts oil ows through the passage 41, the ports 40, the chamber 39, where the oil stream divides, a branch Howin down vpast the valve 43 into the chamber 47 `where it drops some sand, andup the passages 46 to the chamber 38.` The other branch-of the oil Hows up ast the valve 42 where it joins the first ranch. From' the chamber 38 the -oil Hows u the passages 37 and into the chamber 29, w ere it `tends to collapse the bellows 24 and would do 'so if it were not for a predetermined pressure of gas (a term which includes air) maintained in the chamber 27 by suitable apparatus located at the top of the well .where the casing 104 and the tubing 11 are understood to extend. The oil passes from the chamber 29 up through the passages 28 and into the well-tubing 11. When the oil in the tubing reaches a redetermined head or level,.it with the aid o the spring 36 over# .comes the `down pressure of the gas in the bellows, and the substantially balanced system of valves then moves upwardly until the valves 32 and 33 are op'en and the valves 42 and 43 are closed. The closed valves 42 and 43 now prevent pressure from the operating gas being transmitted to strata from which the oil comes. Compressed gas in the casing 10 or the chamber 27 now Hows through the ports 31 and into the chamber 30, whence it divides, one branch Howing past the valve 32 and into the chamber 29, and the other branch Howing past the valve 33 into the chamber 38 and up the passages 37 and into the chamber 29.

' The compressed gas is jetted into the disfect the opJeration now to be described and eing in the 'position shown, the

charge column of oil. The as'\intimately mixes with the oil and expan s causing the 'oil in the tubing 11 to rise an overHow at the top of the well. The discharge column of oil becomes gradually lighter until the condition arrives when the gas pressure with-l in the bellows exceeds by a predetermined amount the external pressure on -the same,

and the string .as mFig. 1. Two lengths 10" and 10b of the casing are connected .together by the special coupling 49 having the internal annular downwardly tapering seat 50 to receive the correspondingly tapered coupling 16* which connects together the blocks 15 and and 19. The same reference numerals are used in Figs. 1 and 2 for identical parts.

I claim- 1. In a gas-lift pump for wells, a vertical conduit in which liquid in the well rises, a valve dividing the liquid into upper and lower columns, a conduit to supply 'compressed gas for aerating the uppercolumn, a bellows having one lsurface 1n communication'with the upper column and the other surface in communication with the gas-supply conduit, a valve between the upper col-v umn and the gas supply conduit, and means connecting together the bellows and the valves, one valve being open when the other is closed.

2. In a gas-lift pump for wells, a vertical conduit in which liquid in-=the well rises, a valve dividing the li uid into upper and lower columns, a con uit to supply compressed gas for aerating the upper column, a resilient bellows having one surface in communication with the upper column andthe other surface in commumcation with the gassupply conduit, a valve between the upper column andthe gas supply conduit, means connecting together. the bellows and 'the valves, one valve being open when the other vis closed, and a spring to assist the bellows in closing the first valve and opening the second valve. f

3. In a gas-lift pump for wells, a vertical conduit in which liquid in the well rises, a valve dividing the liquid into upper and lower columns, a conduit to supply compressed gas for aerating the up er column, a resilient bellows having one sur ace in communication with the upper column and the other surface in communication with the` gassupply conduit, a valve between the'upper nsI column and the gas supply conduit, and means connecting together the bellows and the valves, one valve being open when the other is closed, the resiliency of the bellows tending to open the second .valve and hold it closed, in combination with a spring to assist the said tendency of the bellows.

4. In a gas-lift pump for wells, a vertical conduit in which liquid in the Well rises, a lo cut-of valve dividing the said liquid into upper and lower columns, a conduit to supply compressed gas for aerating the upper column, a bellows subjected internally to the compressed gas pressure and externally to the pressure head of liquid in upper column, and a cut-off valve dividing the upper column from the gas-supply conduit, the valves being actuated by the bellows so that when either valve is open the other is closed. v 2o 5. In a gas-lift pump forlwells, a. vertical conduit in which liquid to be pumped rises, a cut-olf valve to divide the liquid into the upper and lower columns. a conduit to supply compressed gas for aerating the upper column, a cut-oli'l valve between the upper column and the gas-supply conduit-and a belvlows havingl one surface subject constantly to the gas pressure in the gas-supply conduit and its other surface subject to the pressure of aerated liquid in the upper column when the first valve is closed and the second valve is open and also to the pressure of the liquid in the first conduit when the first valve is open and the second valve is closed and means connecting the valves to the bellows.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

' MERTON T. ARCHER. 

